Major League Soccer’s best defense got even deeper Wednesday afternoon as Sporting Kansas City sent a second-round pick in next month’s draft to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for U.S. Under-23 national teamer Ike Opara.

Opara appeared in 36 MLS games for San Jose during his three years at the club but struggled with injuries and occasional dips in form. Yet SKC coach Peter Vermes said he believes the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon has all the tools.

“He’s extremely athletic. He’s very good with his feet, excellent in the air and especially on attacking set pieces,” Vermes said. “We think it’s a great acquisition for us in that it gives us a lot of depth in the central defender position, especially with us going into three competitions his upcoming year. We’re very excited about it.”

Opara, who started and struggled for the U.S. U-23 side that failed to qualify for the Olympics, will begin as a backup to MLS defender of the year Matt Besler and Aurélien Collin, who finished third in the voting. Besler signed a new contract with SKC on Wednesday.

Opara, 23, won an NCAA championship with Wake in 2007 and was drafted third overall by San Jose in ’10. He played in a career-high 17 MLS games this season, starting seven, for the Supporters Shield winners.